DxOMark rates lenses for Pentax K-50, and reviews Sigma 50-500mm

Our friends and collaborators over at DxOMark have been investigating lenses for the Pentax K-50, and have just published an article assessing which score best on this well-featured little SLR. They've looked at 28 different models, from both Pentax itself and third-party makes like Sigma and Tamron, and given recommendations for the best lens to buy in various categories. This week they've also tested the Sigma APO 50-500mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM super-telephoto zoom, and compared it to the latest, and rather more expensive Nikon AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR. Click the links below to read more.

Comments

The new Nikon 80-400 VR is quite a bit better than the Bigma and it should be for an extra $1100. I have one and it's the best long zoom I have tried. Only primes are sharper. At 400mm wide open it is very close to 300 F4 with TC. and much easier to shoot with - even hand holdable at the long end (it is heavy, so I wouldn't want to use it all day handheld...) in many situations. The Bigma takes refined technique and a tripod to come close and it still won't match the contrast. The Nikon is just better. That is not to say you can't get great images with the Bigma and that it is a bad lense. It isn't. A colleague uses it all the time and sells plenty of images, so, as always, the photographer trumps the lens. If you know the limitations and understand how to get the most out of it, you can't really argue with the results - especially for the money.

One of the reasons why I bought Pentax K-30 as my first DSLR was the reputation that their "kit" zooms are slightly better than comparable other makes. Now I'm pleasantly surprised how high the "kit" lens has scored in this test!

They rate lenses which outresolve my sensor as having a sharpness of only 10MP. They rate the sigma 18-35 f1.8 as having like 14mp or something. I've seen test pictures from that lens. It is not resolving as much detail as primes. The 50 1.4 and 1.8 scores low. What a joke. I think dxomark secretly hates pentax and loves sigma.

interesting that the DxOmarks for the D800 + Bigma are so different than the D600. This is probably due to the fact that the Bigma is 1/2 stop slower at each focal length than the Nikkor. If we are to trust this measurement, then I would probably pass on the Bigma for use with my D800. But the D600 looks like it could be a good match.